“Why isn’t anyone here to receive us?”
Heavenly Realm, Southern Heavenly Gate.
Lian Yunzhi waited for a long time but saw no immortals coming to guide them. He craned his neck to peer inside the Southern Heavenly Gate, but everything was a vast white blur—he couldn’t see a thing.
Mu Cheng frowned and struck out with his palm.
“Bang!”
The Southern Heavenly Gate trembled violently, faint cracks even appearing on the gate pillars.
Almost in the next instant, a figure in green robes appeared on the distant horizon, speeding toward them on clouds and mist.
Lian Yunzhi: “…”
It worked just like that?
They were finally about to meet the immortals of the heavens, so Lian Yunzhi instinctively straightened his back and adjusted his robes.
At that moment, Mu Cheng pulled something from his embrace and handed it over.
It was the Hair Vine Strip Lian Yunzhi had left for him before entering the tower.
Lian Yunzhi took it, somewhat surprised. “You didn’t eat any of it?”
After all, it must have been tempting for Mu Cheng—he had thought Mu Cheng wouldn’t be able to resist.
Mu Cheng hesitated for a moment before saying, “No.”
Lian Yunzhi: “…”
Sensing Mu Cheng’s unusual hesitation, Lian Yunzhi let a stream of water flow from his fingertip. He silently washed the vine strip, cast Dust Removal Technique on it, then placed it back on his head, watching it transform into hair.
Mu Cheng: “.”
.
The green-robed figure finally arrived before them. It turned out to be a Little Immortal Child who looked only eight or nine years old, with two buns tied in his hair.
The Little Immortal Child bowed respectfully to them.
“Welcome, Immortal Lords, to your ascension. The Heavenly Realm has prepared Immortal Palaces for you both. Please follow me.”
Lian Yunzhi nodded slightly, full of grandeur.
But Mu Cheng spoke up. “You’ll leave once we reach the Immortal Palace, right?”
The Little Immortal Child looked up, somewhat puzzled, but still replied, “Yes.”
Mu Cheng: “Is our Immortal Palace very remote?”
The Little Immortal Child: “…The Heavenly Realm is vast. All Immortal Palaces have their own independent domains, surrounded by empty expanses with no one around.”
Mu Cheng: “And no one else will come to see us after that?”
The Little Immortal Child: “This… I don’t know.”
Lian Yunzhi understood immediately and angrily declared, “We ascended properly! What do you mean by this in the Heavenly Realm? Are you deliberately ignoring and excluding us?”
Cold sweat beaded on the Little Immortal Child’s forehead. “Absolutely not…”
Lian Yunzhi had no intention of bullying a child, so he said, “Take us to see—”
The Little Immortal Child waited a long time but heard no continuation, so he looked up. “…Whom does the Immortal Lord wish to see?”
Lian Yunzhi: “…”
How was Lian Yunzhi supposed to know whom to see? He had just arrived in the Heavenly Realm and knew no one—not even its structure or if it had a leader.
Fortunately, Mu Cheng spoke up in time. “Take us to whoever sent you.”
The Little Immortal Child bowed his head in assent.
.
The Little Immortal Child eventually led Lian Yunzhi and Mu Cheng to a true immortal palace hall. Endless jade steps climbed straight to the cloud-topped palace, making the people at the base look like ants. Golden glowing characters were engraved above the Immortal Palace—Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
The Little Immortal Child stepped back two paces and whispered, “The Heavenly Emperor is here discussing matters with the various Immortal Lords.”
Heavenly Emperor?
Lian Yunzhi’s throat bobbed as he pulled Mu Cheng upward.
The seemingly endless steps were climbed in moments. Lian Yunzhi stopped before the several-zhang-high hall doors, then pushed them open with force—
Immortal mist scattered like beaded curtains before Lian Yunzhi’s eyes. The Heavenly Emperor on the high platform and the several Immortal Lords below all turned their heads in unison. Endless immortal might crashed toward him.
Lian Yunzhi’s breath hitched. If he were a cat, his back would have arched and every hair stood on end by now. If he had transformed into his original form, every leaf on him would have trembled without wind.
But he was in human form now, so aside from Mu Cheng tightly gripping his hand at his side, no one noticed his tension. He boomed, “I’m Lian Yunzhi, who just ascended today. I want to ask—what are the rules of your Heavenly Realm? For cultivators who suffered a thousand hardships to ascend and become immortals, do you just dump them in remote Immortal Palaces and ignore them? Or is it just us you’re targeting?!”
He had no immortal poise whatsoever—his words lacked courtesy and were utterly barbaric. Yet no one in the hall laughed or spoke. Everyone simply stared at him silently, watching him.
But silence could sometimes be a form of pressure.
Heat gradually rose to Lian Yunzhi’s cheeks, making him feel like a monkey jumping around wildly.
“Boom!”
At that moment, Mu Cheng waved his hand. A mass of black mist formed from his palm and shot toward the crowd like a firecracker. In an instant, the black mist exploded into thousands upon thousands of venomous bees!
The venomous bees buzzed through the crowd. The proper Immortal Lords, caught off guard, instantly panicked. Their composure shattered as they clamored in chaos.
“So you’re not all mutes,” Mu Cheng instantly recalled the bees and said coldly. “Then answer my Dao Companion’s question!”
“Arrogant!” A nine-chi-tall Tall and Burly Immortal Lord stood from the crowd. “How dare petty vermin like you cause a scene in Lingxiao Treasure Hall?!”
He grabbed his Magic Staff and charged at them, a several-zhang-tall Golden Body Dharma Image suddenly appearing behind him.
Mu Cheng struck out instantly.
Black patterns filled the Golden Body Dharma Image in Mu Cheng’s eyes. As it neared, Mu Cheng absorbed it into his body. The Tall and Burly Immortal Lord’s expression changed drastically. To survive, he shed most of his immortal power like a lizard its tail. His face paled as he hastily retreated several steps, gritting his teeth. “…Indeed an evil demon!”
But Mu Cheng didn’t even glance at him. He only lowered his gaze and softly said to Lian Yunzhi, “I tested them. The Immortal Lords of the heavens are nothing special.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough to change every Immortal Lord’s expression.
Lian Yunzhi’s heart settled. He patted the back of Mu Cheng’s hand in praise and quietly straightened his back.
But at that moment, overwhelming immortal might surged like tidal waves. The Heavenly Emperor spoke.
“What are your demands?”
The Heavenly Emperor’s voice echoed in Lingxiao Treasure Hall like a golden bell tolling, stirring endless reverberations. Lian Yunzhi’s hairs stood on end again. He gritted his teeth and said, “I just want fairness! Treat us the same way you treat other ascended cultivators!”
The Heavenly Emperor’s gaze swept toward one of the Immortal Lords.
It was a white-haired elder. He stepped forward and said, “Ascended cultivators from the lower realms are generally received and settled by the Seven Star Immortal Envoys, who judge their lives, assign immortal ranks, bathe them in immortal dew, and arrange immortal positions for them.”
Lian Yunzhi: “Where are the Seven Star Immortal Envoys? I didn’t see them!”
